Rail-joint.



F. E. DILLON.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. l0, 1911.

1 055,991. Patented Mar.11,1913. 2 sHEBTssHBBT 1.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM Co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

F. E. DILLON.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED 0012.10, 1911.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Iilll NH 1in J0- W INVENTUQ- WITNESSES:

KQ/wq/ ff-hcnNaYl OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRIEND E. DILLON, OF MARTINS FERRY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-EIGHTH TO WIL- LIAM M. CLEMANS, ONE-SIXTH TO CHARLES H. COPP, ONE-SIXTH I'O HAL SPEIDEL, AND ONE-SIXTH IO G. O. NAGLE, ALL F WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 10, 1911.

Patented Mar. 11,1913.

serial No. 653,917.

To all wiz-0m t may concern:

Be it known that I FRIEND E. D1LLoN, a citizen of theUnited States of America, and a resident of Martins Ferry, county of Belmont, and State of Ohio, have -invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Joints, of which the following is a specificat-ion.

This invention relates broadly to rail joints, and specifically to a device for securing the adjacent ends of railway rails without the employment of the usual nuts and bolts.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient and durable de p vice whereby the adjacent ends of railway rails are rigidly secured in alined position.

A further obj ect is to provide a device of the character mentioned the construction of which is such that adjustment of its parts may be readily effected from time to time to compensate for wear.

In describing the invention in detail, ref erence is herein had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the invention applied; Fig. 2 -is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3, Fig. l; Fig. t is a view simi'- lar to Fig. l, showing portions of the de vice broken away; Fig. 5 is a cross sect-ion on the line 5 5, Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the clamp; and Fig. 7 is a similar view of the wedge-locking pin, or key.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views-1 1 indicate approaching rail-ends which are received between the upwardly and inwardly curved, or arcuate, lateral portions 2e and 2b of a clamping member 2, said rail-ends being seated upon the longitudinally-extending fiat base portion 2C of said member. Seated against the rails on opposite sides of the latter are splice-bars 3 having their lower edges resting upon the rail bases and their upper edges in bearing engagement with the under side of the rail heads, as shown. Holes 4 provided in said splice-bars are in that when one end is flush with the outer face of one of the splice-bars 8 the opposite end projects outward slightly from the outer face of the opposite splice-bar. The arcuate portion 2"v of the clamping member extends horizontally inward a greater distance than does the portion 2, the inner edge of the' former being parallel to the rails andadapted to abut directly against the adjacent splice-bar for supporting the latter in posi# tion. For receiving the outwardly project ing ends of the pins 6, notches or recesses 7 are provided in said portion 2b. When said pins are in place with their ends in said notches, the rails, splice-bars and clamping 'member are securely interlocked, as is apparent.

The arcuate portion 2a of the clamping member has its lateral edge inclined out of parallel alinement with the rails and occupies a position wholly withdrawn from engagenient with the adjacent splicebar, a longitudinally tapered space being thus afforded between said edge and said splicebar for the reception of a similarly shaped wedge 8 whereby the parts are drawn into binding relation for rigidly clamping the rails. The inner face of the wedge is adapt` ed torseat throughout its length against the adjacent splice-bar, and the outer face thereof is inclined to correspond with the edge of said portion 2L of the clamping member so that the force exerted by the wedge in driving is substantially equally distributei over the engaging surfaces. For facilitating the application of the wedge, beads 8 are preferably provided on the outer face thereof to form an intermediate guide chunnel in which the lateral edge of the portion 2 is received.

The clamping member 2 is of substantially even gage, or thickness, throughout and made of fa material which is slightly resilient when subjected to bending strains;

hence the inturned terminals of the oppcsing portions 2a and 2b yield slightly with the application of the wedge, and this tendency is materially augmented by the regular arcuate curvature of said portions. The liability to rupture under strains is at the same time but slight. The form of the clamp, furthermore, provides for a cushioning` effect or function, operating to absorb lateral shocks or strains imposed on the joint and thereby to maintain the joint in a tightened Condition.,

The base portion 2c of the clamping member has its ends projected longitudinally beyond the portions 2a and 2b for resting upon supporting crossties 9. Recesses 10 are provided iny opposite sides of the projecting ends for the reception of spikes 11 whereby the member is secured to said crossties.

Means is preferably provided for locking the wedge against chance retraction, said means embracing a key 12 adapted to be inserted in one vof a plurality of horizontally directed holes 13`provided therefor in said wedge. When said wedge has been driven into place, the cylindrical end 12EL of said key is inserted in that hole 13 in the projecting point of the wedge next adjacent to 4a shoulder 14 formed by the provision of a notch in the corresponding vend of the portion 2fL of the clamping member 2. That portion of the key 12 which then projects from the hole 13 is substantially semicylindrical in form, having a flat face 12b' adapted to engage said shoulder 14. The wedge is then driven rearward until said face 12b engages said shoulder, whereu )on further retraction of said wedge is e ectually prevented by said key, while retraction of the key is prevented by the engagement of its shoulder 12c with the lateral edge of the portion 2a of the clamping member.

In the formation of each of the arcuate portions 2a and 2b a semi-circle is described, one end of the curve terminating in the horizontal base 2c and the other in a horizontal terminal parallel with said base portion. vThus, no angles are formed, and the danger of breakage from strains to which said clamping member is subjected in practice is practically eliminated, while the resiliency of said member is increased.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. fastening for the adjacent ends of railway rails, comprising splice-bars seated against said rail ends on opposite sides, a clamping member having a Vbase portion upon which said rail ends are seated and having arcuately curved outwardlyA yieldable' portions with horizontalterminals approaching said splice-bars o-n opposite sides, one of said terminals having its inner edge in direct bracing engagement with the adj acent splice-bar, the opposite terminal having its inner edge inclined with respect to the splice-bar located adjacent thereto, a wedge interposed between said inclined edge and the adjacent splice-bar, and means including a key having a cylindrical portion and a semi-cylindrical portion, for locking said wedge in adjusted position.

2. A fastening for the adjacent ends of railway rails, comprising splice-bars seated against said rail ends on opposite sides, a clamping member having a base portion upon which said rail ends are seated and having arcuately curved outwardly yieldable portions with horizontal terminals approaching said splice-bars on opposite sides, one of said terminals having its inner edge in direct bracing engagement with the adjacent splice-bar, the opposite terminal having its inner edge inclined with respect to the splice-bar located adjacent thereto, a wedge interposed between said inclined edge and the adjacent splice-bar, and a key seated in said wedge and interlocking with an end of said clamping member for locking said wedge against retraction.

3. A fastening for the adjacent ends of railway rails, comprising splice-bars seated against said rail ends on opposite sides, a clamping member having a base portion upon which said rail ends are seated and having arcuately curved portions with horizontal terminals approaching said splicebars on opposite sides, one of said terminals having its inner edge in direct bracing engagement with the adjacent splice-bar, the opposite terminal having its inner edge inclined with respect to the splice-bar located adjacent thereto, a wedge interposed between said inclined edge and the adjacent splice-bar, and a key seated horizontally in said wedge and having a projecting end in interlocking engagement with an end of said clamping member.

4. A fastening for the adjacent ends of railway rails, comprising splice-bars seated against said rail ends on 0 positie sides, a clamping member having a dat base portion upon which said rail ends are seated and having oppositely disposed arcuately curved portions which end in horizontal terminals whose edges approach said splice-bars, one of said edges being parallel with the rails and in direct bracing engagement with the adjacent splice-bar and the opposite edge being inclined with respect to the adjacent splice-bar and wholly withdrawn from engagement with the latter, a wedge interposed between the said inclined edge and the adjacent splice-bar, pins directed through said splice-bars and the rail ends and maintained in place by the wedge at one side and by the opposite terminal at the other, the latter having recesses therein for the reception of the adjacent ends of said pins where ment with said clamping member whereby by said rails and said splice-bars are intern retraction of the key is prevented. 1 locked with said clamping member, and a In testimony whereof I aix my signature key for interlocking said wedge with said in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

5 clamping member, said wedge having trans- FRIEND E. DILLON.

versely directed holes therein for the recep- Witnesses: tion of said key, and Said key having a EDMUND C.- WHITEHEAD, shoulder adapted for interlocking engage- S. A. WOOD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

